SEATAC is a bad airport--what happens if not on a partner airline?
May 15, 2018, 9:48 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 75
I was confused when the OP mentioned 3 trains so I looked up an airport diagram for SeaTac. Has there always been a train in the main terminal that connects to the trains that serve the satellite terminals? I don't remember that train at all and I used to be based in Seattle. I like to walk whenever possible so I may just have not been paying attention.
May 15, 2018, 10:08 am
#17
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Pacific Wonderland
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you did have access to your bags and could have taken items banned from the sterile area from your bags. E.g. it is perfectly legal to check a bag containing a large knife. Taking it out while you have the bag and putting it in your carry-on would not be.... desirable.
You have to present all of your bags to the customs officer prior to exiting anyways. Not much space after the exit and before the bag recheck to move things around, rather than by the carousels where there's plenty of room.
May 15, 2018, 10:53 am
#18
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: PDX
Programs: AS MVP Gold 100K
Posts: 2,989
"There is an interline agreement in place as part of the BA/AS codeshare agreement; however, BA has recently instated a policy where they refuse to thru check bags on separate itineraries. This also applies to BA-BA connections. More often than not there are AS reps to recheck bags immediately following the customs check; if not, skip S security and proceed to departures to recheck your bag and clear security."
I did not see any AS reps but perhaps they were there. Thanks for this info. I do not have the option of buying one ticket as I am traveling on a 2 for 1 BA companion certificate on the transatlantic flights which only apply to BA metal. Based on my experience on Sunday, I'm thinking I may have to build in 2.5-3 hours for the connecting flight from SEA-PDX which seems unreasonably long. Is that appropriate. Thanks!
I did not see any AS reps but perhaps they were there. Thanks for this info. I do not have the option of buying one ticket as I am traveling on a 2 for 1 BA companion certificate on the transatlantic flights which only apply to BA metal. Based on my experience on Sunday, I'm thinking I may have to build in 2.5-3 hours for the connecting flight from SEA-PDX which seems unreasonably long. Is that appropriate. Thanks!
May 15, 2018, 11:05 am
#19
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Somewhat related, SEA customs area has big signs saying not to open your checked luggage unless directed to do so by a CBP officer. First customs area I've seen that. You have to present all of your bags to the customs officer prior to exiting anyways. Not much space after the exit and before the bag recheck to move things around, rather than by the carousels where there's plenty of room.
You have to present all of your bags to the customs officer prior to exiting anyways. Not much space after the exit and before the bag recheck to move things around, rather than by the carousels where there's plenty of room.
May 15, 2018, 11:27 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Snohomish, WA
Programs: AS MVP Gold, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 2,793
I was confused when the OP mentioned 3 trains so I looked up an airport diagram for SeaTac. Has there always been a train in the main terminal that connects to the trains that serve the satellite terminals? I don't remember that train at all and I used to be based in Seattle. I like to walk whenever possible so I may just have not been paying attention.
May 15, 2018, 12:05 pm
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: portland, oregon
Programs: alaska, united, air france, lufthansa,delta, starwood
Posts: 382
PDX is my final destination but I will have flown from Rome to London and then to Seattle so by the time I get to Seattle, the drive from SEATAC to Portland would be hair raising. I apologize for any conflation re my Sunday excursion---which Alaska told me (cuz I called and asked) was more than enough time in SEA to make my connecting flight....and if it going to be absurdly tight, I should have been warned and the online booking shouldn't even show it as an option. Sunday was Victoria-SEA-PDX and so my observations about the messiness of that day got conflated w/an upcoming trip from Europe through SEA and then on to PDX. Anybody have a guess as to when the apparently new international terminal will be operational? And as to my original statement, SEATAC is a really bad airport. Thanks
May 15, 2018, 12:15 pm
#22
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: ANC
Programs: Alaska 100k
Posts: 1,012
If you are surprised about any of the immigration/customs/security formalities of entering the US at SEA, you clearly don't fly internationally very frequently. Everything you described is identical to nearly every other US airport.
Further, I have made a Hainan->Alaska connection in 30 minutes (AS flight was boarding when my PEK-SEA flight arrived at the gate). Had no issue.
Further, I have made a Hainan->Alaska connection in 30 minutes (AS flight was boarding when my PEK-SEA flight arrived at the gate). Had no issue.
May 15, 2018, 1:14 pm
#23
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Instead of "had no issues" I would use "Wouldn't recommend this, though", because your chances of consistently making that connection are pretty slim (and zero with checked bags, as the OP has)
May 15, 2018, 1:24 pm
#24
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As for not interlining bags on separate tickets, lots of carriers don't do that any more. They like to collect bag fees. Some do it for select alliance partners. Some don't do it at all.
May 15, 2018, 1:47 pm
#25
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: SW WA
Posts: 3,884
I flew from Victoria BC to PDX yesterday w/a change of planes in SEA. 24 minute flight from YYJ to SEA. On time departure and landing. Spent at least the same amount of time taxiing to our "gate". Finally got to deplane and then went through customs/immigration in a reasonably efficient way. Then had to reclaim bags and hand off a piece of paper generated by the customs machine to some other officer. Dumped checked bag on conveyer and then stuck in a ridiculously long and very slow line to get to one of two security check points (which made little sense since I couldn't have accessed the customs area and never left airport confines but be that as it may). No TSA line. Full emptying of pockets, belts, shoes, laptop, etc. It took forever. Then had to get to C gates which took either 2 or 3 trains to get there (I cannot remember!). I had a 92 minute layover. By the time I got to my gate, I was one of the last to board. Enormously crummy experience. If I had flown on BA to SEA, I don't think I could have made my Alaska flight to PDX because I wouldn't have been able to stick it on the conveyer belt cuz no interline agreement. Is this true? Is there any kind of workaround? thanks.
May 15, 2018, 1:49 pm
#26
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: portland, oregon
Programs: alaska, united, air france, lufthansa,delta, starwood
Posts: 382
[QUOTE=sturges;29756953]If you are surprised about any of the immigration/customs/security formalities of entering the US at SEA, you clearly don't fly internationally very frequently. Everything you described is identical to nearly every other US airport.
2 security lines after clearing customs/immigration for all arriving international flights is a new one on me...and I've flown internationally and gone through enough domestic airports to definitively re-state, SEATAC is a really bad.
2 security lines after clearing customs/immigration for all arriving international flights is a new one on me...and I've flown internationally and gone through enough domestic airports to definitively re-state, SEATAC is a really bad.
May 15, 2018, 2:16 pm
#27
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Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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[QUOTE=bigbirdwithsilverwings;29757313]
I will repeat what other posters have said above. Due to the massive buildup of international flights by DL and other international carriers, SEA customs and immigration facilities have become overwhelmed in the past 3 or 4 years. As a result, SEA is building a brand new customs and immigration facility. As you are most likely aware, airport construction tends to move at a glacial pace with inevitable delays, but the new facility will be done within the next 2 years or so.
That said, I would have suggested a 120 minute minimum connection in SEA (or any other major US airport for that matter) if you have to clear customs and immigration.
If you are surprised about any of the immigration/customs/security formalities of entering the US at SEA, you clearly don't fly internationally very frequently. Everything you described is identical to nearly every other US airport.
2 security lines after clearing customs/immigration for all arriving international flights is a new one on me...and I've flown internationally and gone through enough domestic airports to definitively re-state, SEATAC is a really bad.
2 security lines after clearing customs/immigration for all arriving international flights is a new one on me...and I've flown internationally and gone through enough domestic airports to definitively re-state, SEATAC is a really bad.
That said, I would have suggested a 120 minute minimum connection in SEA (or any other major US airport for that matter) if you have to clear customs and immigration.
May 15, 2018, 2:26 pm
#28
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: portland, oregon
Programs: alaska, united, air france, lufthansa,delta, starwood
Posts: 382
The workaround is to not go through flight connections. Exit the area, get on the train and go back to the main terminal area. Check your bag and go through security there. That's what I did last time I transited through SEA, and it was much faster than that terrible tiny flight connections area.
May 15, 2018, 6:11 pm
#30
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 1,356
If you have to fly Victoria-PDX in the future, how about doing it through Vancouver (YVR) and doing the customs pre-clearance there, and taking a "domestic" nonstop flight from Vancouver to PDX? That would avoid the fustercluck that is currently International Arrivals at SEA.
